Recently it’s come to my attention that there are a couple of theatres in town that offer cheap tickets to those of us who are out of college, but still not at the point financially where we’re comfortable dropping $85-$100 a seat, and don’t have the time to go wait in line at TKTS, the half price ticket booth.

Roundabout Theatre Company has a program called HipTix. If you are 18-35 you can sign up with them in advance (which really means nothing more than logging onto the website and giving them your name and address) and then you’re eligible for $31.25 tickets. They are not usually in the best locations, but you’re also saving about $50. They also have special ‘HipTix’ parties, one performance during the run of a show with snacks and an open bar in the lounge after the show.

Playwrights Horizon also offers a discount to patrons under 30. You can buy a ‘30 Under Flexpass’ subscription, 4 tickets for $80 or 6 tickets for $120. And you can use them in any combination, for example with the 4 ticket subscribtion: use 2 tickets at one show but go to 2 other shows by yourself, or use all 4 on one show, or go see 4 shows by yourself. . . you get the idea. If you don’t want to commit to a whole season, they also offer HotTix, which are $20 tickets an hour before showtime (subject to availability), you just have to show up with an ID. Both ways you end up saving about $40 a show.

Even the New York City Opera is getting in on it. Their Big Deal memberships are for anyone 21-35, and after an enrollment fee of $50 you can buy one ticket to every opera for $30. It seems to me that if you just wanted to check out an opera once, it would be cheaper to just buy a single seat, but I think it becomes a deal after 4 operas, if you want to go regularly. They also have pre-opera Big Deal receptions and events.

You can join the Theatre Development Fund if you fall into one of the following categories: students, teachers, union members, seniors (62 or over), civil service employees, staff members not-for-profit organizations, performing arts professionals, members of the armed forces or clergy. TDF offers tickets for Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, usually for $32 or less. The availability is constantly changing, and they are on sale up to two weeks in advance.

Of course if none of this works for you, you can always try to get rush or standing room seats. Most theatres only do it for students, but there are some who will sell cheap seats to anyone the day of the show, and since we live here we can afford to be flexible, making it easier to get discounts.

If you’re picky about the location, none of the above may work for you. If you insist on buying full price tickets, at least look for some deals. Joining TheatreMania, Playbill, Hot NYC Deals, Hit Show Club or Best of Broadway: Broadway Bucks gets you access to coupons. And always check Broadway Box, an online collection of the aboves discount codes.

So there ya go, a bunch of different ways to get to see Broadway shows for less. Now if you can just make the plans to actually go. . .